Meghan Markle Spotted at Historic Oxfordshire Pub Reconnecting with Montecito Friends Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
The Duchess of Sussex broke cover in the English countryside on Monday afternoon, September 21, photographed enjoying an unhurried pub gathering alongside her longtime friends and former California neighbors, Ellen DeGeneres (68) and Portia de Rossi (53). The trio convened around 2 p.m. local time at The Three Horseshoes, an 18th-century heritage establishment located near Burford in picturesque Oxfordshire. Sporting an understated ensemble comprising a light blue top, crisp white trousers, and sunglasses, the 45-year-old former actress appeared relaxed, chatting and laughing warmly over afternoon refreshments in images published by Page Six.
The relaxed countryside outing unfolded concurrently with Prince Harry’s solo appearance at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, where the 42-year-old Duke was fulfilling his duties at the annual WellChild Awards. Following the Sussex family’s return to British soil on August 26, Meghan has deliberately eschewed public engagements to shepherd Prince Archie (7) and Princess Lilibet (5) through their transition into UK schooling. The priority on family stability intensified after the royal siblings were abruptly transferred to an alternate campus after merely forty-eight hours due to commuting logistics and protective security protocols.
The Cotswolds reunion underscores an enduring transatlantic friendship that originated within the elite enclaves of Montecito. DeGeneres and de Rossi permanently relocated to the English countryside in late 2024 following the US presidential election, driven in part by de Rossi’s passion for equestrian life and polo. Although the married couple subsequently re-acquired a residential holding in Montecito in early 2026 to split their seasonal commitments between California and Great Britain, their established presence in Oxfordshire provides Meghan with an intimate, familiar support network as she recalibrates to life on British soil.
Beyond adjusting her family’s domestic rhythm, the former Suits star is actively mapping out her forthcoming professional enterprises. Alongside steering her lifestyle enterprise, As ever, and maintaining remote stewardship over Archewell Philanthropies, industry sources report that Meghan is exploring a high-profile return to scripted drama. Weeks after touching down in the UK, reports confirmed preliminary discussions regarding a prospective acting role in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s acclaimed Netflix crime series The Gentlemen, signaling a potentially ambitious creative renaissance within the British television sector.